Impulse turbine



Juy 28, 1942. Il-l. DEsLoN I 2,2914'53 Irenmlslav TURBINE Filed May v1'?. 1940 6 Sl'xeets--Sheeil 1 INVENTOR H E NRY DEGLoN y ATTORNEY July 28, 1942.- A H. |:E"c:`|..or-|` 2,291,453

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INVENTOR H E N R Y DEGLON ATTORNEY Julyv28, 1942. H. DEGLoN" IMfULSE- TURBINE Filed May 17'. 1940 zo ...om e mm nto.. .5m

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95N I'. INVENTOR" Y HENRY DEGLON B k ATTORNEY July 28', 1942.A H. DEGLoN IMPULSE TURBINE Filed May 17, 1940 e Smets-sheet 4,

1 INVENTOR H E N RY o EGLo N BY ATTORNEY July 28,*1942.. H. DEGLON IMPULSE TURBINE Filed May 17, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR BYH E N RY DEGLON Mmm ATTORNEY Julyv 2s, 1942.

H. DEGLON IMPULsE TURBIYNE Filed May 17, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 N m` E V.. D WYAGO vR .n `mN E H lPatented July 28, 1942 IMPULsE TURBINE Henry Deglon, York, Pa., assignor to S. Morgan `Smith Company, York, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 17, 1940, Serial No. 335,750

(Cl. 25g- 24) 8 Claims.

This invention relates to prime mover control systems. It is particularly applicable to the control of impulse water wheels.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved system for controlling the supply of operating iiuid to the runner of an impulse turbine.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved control system for an impulse water wheel having a nozzle for supplying a jet of operating fluid to the wheel, in which the position of the jet with respect to the wheel, aswell as the size of the jet are varied in accordance with the load on the wheel.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism to control the operating fluid for the runner of an impulse water wheel having a nozzle through which a jet of operating fluid is directed towards the wheel, in which the nozzle structure and the controlling mechanism for the jet associated with thenozzle are movable as a unit under control of a governor mechanism responsive to load conditions of the impulse wheel.

With the foregoing and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is an elevation, partly in section, of an impulse turbine installation embodying the present invention, the parts being shown in full load normal speed position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation, partly in section, of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1, the parts being shown in full load rejection position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, the parts being shown in one quarter load normal speed position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevation, partly in vertical section, of a portion of the needle operating and controlling mechanism;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 5, the parts being shown in another operating position;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view, partly in section, of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a detail view, partly in section, showing the manner in which the nozzle is pivotally connected to the inlet pipe.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus may comprise an impulse wheel runner II, mounted on a shaft I 2 journalled in suitable bearings, one of the shaft bearings being indicated at I3, Fig. 2.

The runner I I is enclosed by a casing I4 which may be, in some installations, arranged in the form of a housing over a pit I5 formed in a masonry structure, such as the concrete structure I6 shown.

Projecting into the pit I5 and arranged to discharge a jet of water towards the buckets I| of the runner II, is a nozzle I8, controlled by a needle valve I9.

The nozzle I8 is secured to a nozzle body 20 which is adapted to be pivotally connected to an end of a water supply pipe 2| in the manner hereinafter more fully described, so that the jet can be moved in a Vertical path with respect to the buckets I1.

The water supply pipe 2| projects into one section 22 of the pit I5, and the extremity of said pipe is formed with a bell-end 23.

The interior of the bell-end 23 is formed with a spherical cavity 24 in which is mounted a correspondingly formed end portion 25 of the nozzle body 2U.

The joint between the cavity 24 and the portion 25 may be sealed by means of a packing gland 26.

Mounted on the wall 21 of the pit section 22 and disposed on opposite sides of the pipe 2|, are brackets 28.

Each bracket 28 supports a trunnion 29 on which is rotatably mounted the eye of a bolt 3| carried by a boss 32 formed on the side of the nozzle body 20.

The shank of the bolt 3| has mounted thereon nuts 33.

The construction is such that the bolts 3| are detachably connected to the nozzle 4body 20, so that when the packing gland 26 is disconnected, the nozzle body can be readily assembled and disassembled from the pipe 2|.

By disposing the trunnions 29 in the spaced relation shown in Fig. 2, the nozzle body 20 will be rigidly supported for true vertical movement for the purpose to be hereinafter more full described.

Since the nozzle body is mounted for vertical swinging movement, it is necessary to provide some means for supporting the free end thereof so that the jet will be directed towards the buckets I`| of the runner II.

In the present instance the nozzle supporting means is arranged so that such supporting means can be operatively connected with a governor mechanism, generally indicated at 36, and mounted on the concrete structure I6 in proximity to the nozzle, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Overlying the nozzle body 29 and arranged transversely thereof, is a shaft 31, which is supported by a plurality of bearings V38 mounted on the concrete structure I6.

Fixed to the shaft 31 and disposed at opposite sides of the nozzle body 20, are two arms 39.

Connected to the free end of each arm 39 by means of a pin 48, is the intermediate portion of a link 4|. The lower end of the link 4| is pivotally connected by a pin 42, to the nozzle body 29.

Above the pivot 49, the link 4|` is formed with a smaller portion 43 which projects upwardly and terminates at a suitable distance above the shaft 31.

Mounted in the upper ends of the portions 43 of the links 4| and arranged transversely of the nozzle body 2,8, is a rod 44, the-purpose of which will be hereinafter more fullydescribed (see Fig. 2).

At a point adjacent the governor mechanism 36, the shaft 31 has fixed thereto one end of an arm 46.V

The free end of the arm 46 is connected by al rod 41, to the free end of an arm 48'- keyed tofanV actuator shaft 49 of the governor mechanism 36.

It is to be understood that the governor mechanism 36, which is diagrammatically shown Vin the drawings, may be of any well known type of mechanism adapted to be used in connectionV with hydro-electric apparatus for controlling the supplyV of operating fluid to the runner in accordance with the load. In such apparatus the governor mechanism may be operatively con- In the position of the parts shown in Fig. 1,Y

the shaft 49, through the arm 48, the rod 41, the arms 46 and 39, and the links 4|, retains the nozzle |8 in such a position that the jet of operating fluid strikes the center of the runner bucketsv I1. This position of the nozzle |8 is the uppermost position, and when the shaft 49 operates the above described leverage mechanism, the nozzle |8 is swung downwardly about the pivot provided by the trunnions 29. Since the arms 39 and 46 are keyed to the shaft 31, the angular relationship of these arms never changes and consequently said arms constitute bell crank levers which turn about the axis provided by the shaft 31.

The needle valve I9 is formed with a stem 5| which extends through a stufng box 52 (Fig. 5) carried by the nozzle body 20.

Associated with the needle valve I9 is a control mechanism, generally indicated at 53. This control mechanism is so arranged as to automatically control the operation of the turbine, whereby the turbine will operate in the most efficient manner irrespective of variations VinY the load.

As shown in Fig. 5, the control mechanism` 53 may comprise a servo motor 54 including a piston 55 operating in a cylinder 56 andV connected to thevalve stem i Fluid'under pressure may be admitted so as to act'on either side of the piston 55 and the admission of this uid may be controlled by means of a distributing valve 51 shown as having a pair of piston valves 58 and 59 operating in a cylinder 60. The valves 58 and 59 may be operated by means of a stem 6|.

The valves 58 and 59 divide the cylinder 68 into chambers 62, 63 and 64. Chamber 63 is connected toa source of supply of fluid pressure (not shown), through `port 65 and pipe 66.

Chambers 62 and 64 are connected, respectively, by ports 61, 68 and pipes 69, 10, to the usual sump tank (not shown) with which apparatus of the present type is usually provided.

The cylinder 68 is provided with ports 1| and 12.

Port 1| is connected to chamber 13 on one side of the piston 55 by a passage 14, and port 12 is connected to chamber 15 by a passage 16.

The valves 58 and 59 are shown in their neutral position, in which position they lap the ports 1| and 12 to thereby cut off communication between the valve device 51 and the servo-motor 54.

The stem 6| is connected to a floating lever 11 intermediate the ends of 'said lever.

One end of the lever 11 is connected to the needle valve stern 5|, and the other end of4 the lever 11 is connected to a rod, indicated generally As shown best in Figs. 5 and '1, at a suitable point outwardly from the lever 11, the rod 18 has a diskV 8.9 xed thereto. The purpose ofi the disk 89 will be hereinaftermore fully described.

Beyond the disk 89, the rod 18 has a telescoping section so arranged that the end portion of the rod 18 farthest from the lever 1T can be telescoped during operation of the apparatus in the manner to be hereinafterv more fully described, Y

The extreme outer section of the rod 18 is formed with an eye 19. The rfod 44Y heretofore referred to passes through the eye 19, as shown best in Fig. 2.

Extending rearwardly from the eye 19 is a tubular section having an internal bore of a diameter to snugly receive the outer extremity of the rod 18.

Secured to the end portion of the tube 80, is a second tubular member 8| having an internal bore approximatelyrequal tothe diameter of the exterior of the tube 80.

The end of the tube 8|Y opposite to the end thereof which is secured to the tube 86 is formed with a bore 82 to snugly receive the rod 18.

The construction of the tubes-88V and 8 IV is such that spaced apart bearings are provided for supporting the outer portion of the rod 18. rIhe relation of the tube 8| with respect to the tube 88 never changes, but-the disposition of the end portion of the rod 18 within said tubes may change during the operation of the apparatus.

Fixed to the portion of the rod 18 which is disposed within the tube 87|, isa collar 82.

Encircling the portion of the rod 18 which is disposed within the tube 8|, is an expansible coil spring 83. One end of the spring 83 bears against the shoulder 84 provided by the endl of the tube 80 which is disposed within the tube 8|, and the other end of said spring bearsagainst the collar 82, thereby retaining said collar normally in engagement with theV shoulder 85v provided `at the end of the tube 8|'. In suchposition the rod 18, as a whole, is in extended position.

During operation of the apparatus the rod 18 is telescoped, and during such movement the tube 88 moves towards the disk 89. At the same time, the shoulder 85 is moved away from the collar 82 and the shoulder 84 is moved in the same direction towards the collar 82, thereby compressing the spring 83 (see Figs. 3 and 5).

Mounted on the nozzle body 20 is an electric motor B6, the shaft 81 of which carries a pinion 88 having teeth in meshing relationship with the teeth of a sector 9|. The sector 9| is pivotally mounted at 92 on a pin carried by a bracket 93,

Fixed to the sector 9| and extending upwardly from the pivot 92, is an arm 94 which has mounted thereon a roller 95 adapted to engage the disk 89 during operation of the apparatus.

Electric current is adapted to be supplied to the electric motor 86, in order to operate said motor whereby the sector 9| is moved from the normal position shown in Fig. 6 to the position shown in Fig. and vice versa.

In Fig. 1 the apparatus is illustrated as functioning in full load, normal speed position. In this operating position of the apparatus the jet from the nozzle I8 is directed towards the pitch diameter of the buckets I1 of the runner, and the needle I9 is in open position. The control mechanism 53 is in the position shown in Fig. 5.

In Fig. 3 the apparatus is illustrated in full load rejection position. That is to say, through the operation of the governor mechanism 36, the nozzle body 28 is swung about the pivot, provided by the trunnions 29 so that the free end of the nozzle is moved downwardly. In this way the jet is moved away from the pitch diameter of the runner buckets |1.

In the movement of the nozzle from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 3, since the roller 95 is in engagement with the disk 89, the relative position of the operating rod 18 with the control mechanism 53 remains unchanged, and consequently the needle I9 remains in the same relative position within the nozzle. In this way the size of the jet is not changed.

When it is desired to change the size of the jet, for instance, when there is a condition, such as one-fourth load, normal speed, as shown in Fig. 4, the electric motor 86 operates to move the sector 9| so that the roller 95 is disengaged from the disk 89. Through the action of the spring 83, the rod 18 is moved in the direction in which the oating lever 11 is swung about the fulcrum provided by the pivot 98, from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. 4. The distributing valve 51 is then operated to control the fluid in cylinder 56 so that the piston 55 is moved from the full line position to the dotted line position, Fig. 5, thereby partly closing the needle I9.

After the needle has been thus positioned the disk 89 will again engage the roller 95 thereby preventing further movement of the rod 18 and the floating lever 11 will move piston valves 58 and 59 to the lap position shown in Fig. 5, so that the fluid is bottled up in piston chambers 13 and 15, with the result that the needle I9 is held in its adjusted position.

In hydro-electric stations it is customary to provide a suitable switchboard (not shown). In addition to the switches on the switchboard for controlling the operation of the electric motor 86, there are also signal lights for indicating to an operator the relative position of the needle within the nozzle.

From the foregoing, it will be noted that a dual regulation or control mechanism has been provided.

The governor mechanism 35 regulates the relative position of the nozzle with respect to the pitch diameter of the blades of the runner II, as well as the size of the jet.

For normal operation the entire mechanism is designed to assure a small variation of the pitch diameter between the full load and no load position and to move the jet completely out of the buckets in case of sudden load off (see Fig. 3).

In other words, for slow load on or off, the needle I9 will be actuated by the mechanism to slowly travel from normal speed no load to full load position and vice versa. The nozzle 29 will be oscillated very little and the governor arm 48 will also travel a small fraction of its stroke.

The dual regulation permits for the normal relationship of the mechanism, a very quick load off and a load on as fast as the pipe line pressure variation will permit.

If an instantaneous load on regulation is wanted which is out of the range of ilywheel effect compatible with steady regulation, the relationship between the nozzle and the needle position can be changed in such a manner as to have the nozzle opening greater than required for the load. In other words, in Fig. 4, the nozzle is shown in the position in which a partial jet is directed towards the buckets I1.

Should the load suddenly increase, the needle I9 is operated to increase the size of the jet, and the nozzle body 20 is moved so that the jet, or at least a part of the jet, is directed away from the buckets (see Fig. 3). Now, with the jet out of normal pitch diameter position, the apparatus is ready to take an instantaneous increase of load corresponding to the diierence between the actual load on the apparatus and the load correspending to the nozzle opening.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a device of the type described, a nozzle mounted for vertical swinging movement and having a needle valve, mechanism for adjusting the needle valve to control the amount of uid delivered by said nozzle, a governor, means operatively connecting said governor with said nozzle for imparting swinging movement to the nozzle and including a bell crank lever, means for connecting the bell crank lever to said needle valve mechanism and including a telescoping rod, and means for actuating said rod independently of said governor to adjust the position of said needle valve with respect to said nozzle.

2. In a device of the type described, a nozzle mounted for vertical swinging movement and having a needle valve, a governor, means for controlling the position of said needle valve within said nozzle, mechanism for swinging said nozzle about its pivot, means operatively connecting said governor with said nozzle swinging mechanism, means operatively connecting said needle valve controlling means with said mechanism, and means for controlling the operation of said last named means so as to permit operation of said needle valve independently of the operation of said governor.

3. In a device of the type described, a nozzle mounted for vertical swinging movement and having a needle valve, a governor, a shaft, a bell crank lever keyed to said shaft, a link connecting an arm 0f said bell crank lever with said nozzle, means connecting the other arm of said bell crank lever with said governor so that operating movements of the governor are effective through said shaft, saidl bell crank lever and said link for moving said nozzle, an arm projecting from said link, mechanism for controlling the position of said needle valve with respect tol said nozzle so as to control the amount of fluid deliv ered from said nozzle and Vincluding a servomotor operatively connected to said needler valve and a distributing valve for said servo-motor, said distributing valve having a stem, a floating lever connecting said valve stem to said needle valve, a rod connected at one end to said oating lever, means connecting the other end of said rod with said link arm, said rod comprising a rigid section connected to said floating lever and a telescoping section formed in the portion of the rod adjacent to said link arm, means for normally retaining the telescoping section of said rod extended, a disk mounted on the rigid section of said rod, a member engageable with said disk to hold the rigid section of said rod and permit telescoping movements of. the other section of the rod when the governor operates the bell crank lever to swing the nozzle, and means for actuating Said disk engaging member to move said member either out of or into engagement with said disk, said rod being adapted when said member is disengaged from said disk to transmit movements of said governor to said distributing valve to thereby effect a change in the position of said needle valve in the nozzle.

4. In a device of the type described, a nozzle mounted for vertical swinging movement and having a needle valve for controlling the supply of operating fluid, a governor, a shaft, a bell crank lever mounted on said shaft, a link connecting an arm of' said bell crank lever with said nozzle, means connecting the other arm of said bell crank lever with said governorso that operating movements oi the governor are eiIective to move said nozzle, an arm projecting from said link, mechanism for controlling the position of said needle valve with respect to said nozzle so as to control the amount of fluid delivered from said nozzle, and including a servo-motor operatively connected to said needle valve and a distributing valve for controlling the operation of said servo-motor, a floating lever connected to said needle valve, a rod connected at one end to said iloating lever, means connecting the other end of said rod with said link arm, said rod comprising a rigid section and a telescoping section, means for normally retaining the telescoping section of said rod extended, a disk mounted on the rigid section of said rod, a member engageable with said disk to hold the rigid section of said rod and permit telescoping movements of the other section of the rod when the governor operates the bell crank lever to swing the nozzle, and means for actuating said disk engaging member to move said member either out of or into engagement with said disk, so as to operate the distributing valve to change the position of said needle valve in the nozzle.

5. In a device of the type described, a nozzle mounted for vertical swinging movement and having a needle valve for controlling the supply of fluid discharged therefrom, a governor, a shaft, a bell crank lever keyed to said shaft, a link connecting an arm of said lever with said nozzle, means connecting the other arm of said lever with said governor so that operating movements of the governor are eiective to swing said nozzle, an arm projecting from said link, mechanism for controlling the position of said needle valve with respect to said nozzle so as to control the amount of fluid delivered by said nozzle, means connecting said arm with said needle valve mechanism, and means controlling the operation of said connecting means so that said needle valve mechanism can be operated either independently of the governor or simultaneously with the governor.

6. In a device of the type described, a nozzle mounted for vertical swinging movement and having a needle valve for controlling the supply of fluid discharged therefrom, a governor, Ya shaft, means keyed to said shaft and operated by said governor for moving said nozzle, an arm projecting from said shaft means, mechanism for controlling the position of said needle valve with respect to said nozzle, and including a servomotor operatively connected to said needle valve and a distributing valve for controlling the operation of said servo-motor, a floating lever connected to said distributing valve, a rod connected at one end to said floating lever, means connecting the other end of said rod with said arm, said rod comprising a rigid section and a telescoping section, formed in the portion of the rod adjacent to said arm, means for normally retaining the telescoping section of saidrod extended, a disk mounted on the rigid section of said rod, a

member engageable with said disk to hold the rigid section of said rod and permit'telescoping movements of the other section of the rod when the governor operates the shaft means to swing the nozzle, and means for actuating said disk engaging member to move said member either out of or into engagement with said disk, saidl rod being adapted when said member is disengaged from said disk to transmit movements of said governor to said distributing valve to thereby effect a change in the position of said needle valve in 'the nozzle.

'7. In a device of the type described, a nozzle mounted for vertical swinging movement and having a needle valve, a governor, a shaft, a bell crank lever keyed to said shaft, a link connecting an arm of said bell crank lever with said nozzle, means connecting the other arm of said bell crank lever with said governor so that operating movements of the governor are effective for moving said nozzle, mechanism for controlling the position of said needle valve with respect to said nozzle, and including a servo-motor operatively connected to said needle valve and a distributing valve for controlling the operation of said servomotor, a rod connected at one end to said dis'- tributing valve, means connecting the other end of said rod with said link, saidrod comprising a rigid section and a telescoping section formed in the portion of the rod adjacent to said' link, means for knormally retaining the telescoping section of said rod extended, a disk mounted on the rigid section of said rod, a member engageable with said disk to hold the rigid section of said rod and permit telescoping movements of the other section of the rod when the governor operates the bell crank lever to swing the nozzle, and means for actuating said disl member to move said memberv either out of or into engagement with said disk, said rod being adapted when said member is disengaged from said disk to transmit movements of said governor to said distributing valve.

8. In a device of the type described, a nozzle mounted for vertical swinging movement and having a needle valve for controlling the supply of fluid discharged therefrom, a governor responsive to load conditions, a shaft, a bell crank lever keyed to said shaft, a link connecting an engaging arm of said bell crank lever with said nozzle, means connecting the other arm of said bell crank lever With said governor so that operating movements of the governor are eiective for moving said nozzle, mechanism for controlling the position of said needle valve with respect to said nozzle, a rod connected at one end to said mechanism, means connecting the other end of said rod with said link, said rod comprising a rigid section and a telescoping section formed 1n the portion of the rod adjacent to said link, means for normally retaining the telescoping section of said rod extended, a disk mounted on the rigid section of said rod, a member engageable with said disk to hold the rigid section of said rod and permit telescoping movements of the other section of the rod when the governor operates the bell crank lever to swing the nozzle so that such governor movements are ineective on said needle valve, and means for actuating said disk engaging member to move said member out of engagement with said disk, so that movements of said governor may be transmitted to said mechanism to thereby eiect a change in the position of said needle valve in the nozzle. HENRY DEGLON. 

